The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-06
A Source Of Danger.

The detailed account THE Sun published
the other day Of the criminal character OF q
considerable part OF the italian immigrants
who take up their homes in New York was
an astonishing revelation OF industriously
gathered and well-authenticated facts.
1t was plain and sober narrative, with
out any attempt at sensational effect
but 1t was a story Of profound con-
Germ to this community. The fact
that crimes Of violence are more fire.
quent among the Italians Of New York,
In proportion to their numbers, than among
any other part Of our heterogeneous popula-
ton, may have begun to extend from those
who are familiar with our criminal courts
but the explanation Of that criminal DISPOSE
sition was first clearly presented to the pub
lie In the article to which we refer. 1t Is, In
fine, that we have in New York large
and increasing band Of organized italian
cutthroats and assassins, who terrify their
own countrymen and are building up here a
school OF crime peculiarly dangerous to tho
community.
The fact was also brought out that very
much Of the counterfelting now done in this
country Is done by these imported Italian
circulation very largely through agents and
confederates OF their race, who have at length
almost monopolized the fruit stands Of the
town. There are probably many among
our readers who have received coun-
terfeit change at such italian fruit
stands, and have oharitably acquitted the
vendors OF any intentional fraud, on the
ground Of their ignorance Of our coin. The
detectives In the employ OF the Federal Gov
ernment have discovered that this criminal
Industry has astonishing ramifications, and
that among those concerned In It, to use the
words OF a prominent detective, are "men
who have high standing In many OF the
Italian societies. and are not dreamed Of as
regularly engaged In the criminal traffic."
But the organized bands for Intimidation
ard murder are a far moro serious thing.
Those whose duty 1t is to investigate the
many cases of atroclous assault among
the Italians are constantly baf1led In their
Inquiry because OF the unwillingness Of
the witnesses and even Of the injured Of
the same race to testify against the GRIM
inal. The assault or the murder has taken
place in tine most mysterious way, and,
so far as any evidence can be obtained
1t has heen entirely uuprovoked. A
party OF Italians are playing at cards a
quarrel occurs. and one Of them Ia killed.
or a man who, the survivors swear, is an
utter stranger to them, comes In and
does the stabbing. 1t Is obvious that
the quarrel was started simply to carry
out a deliberately planned murder, or
that the assassin from outside was employed
to execute bloody commission for some
secret purpose; but the witnesses are ready
to perjure themselves to save tho murderer.
Even q man who has been most brutally
assaulted, and has so far recovered from his
wounds that he Is able to testify. will exhibit
his anxiety to shield his assailant This Is
because they know that they will be marked
out for bloody revenge II In any way they
assist In the conviction Of the criminal
The allegation Of the detectives 10 that
there is now firmly established In this coun-
try large Italian society Of robbery and
assassination called the Malta, which had its
origin In Sicily among the brigands who in
fest that island. Its object, as described by
those who havo Investigated It's working, is
simply promisouous crime and mutual pro-
lection to Its members In crime" Its agents
do their work with deyilish mslignity. and
niormers are the espSciL objects Of THAR at.